The chapter "Structure & Function of the Cerebral Cortex" by Manolis Froudarakis, a Group Leader at IMBB-FORTH, explores the complex interactions and functions of the cerebral cortex. The text begins by highlighting the goal of neural networks to interact with the environment, emphasizing their role in simple behaviors in Hydra and more sophisticated systems for detecting, processing, and responding to objects. The chapter then delves into the functional properties of the neocortex, including receptive fields, population representations, orientation columns, topographic maps, and hierarchical organization. It discusses the types of neurons based on shape, polarity, and activity, and explains the resting membrane potential and ion channels, which are crucial for neuronal communication. Key topics include depolarization, action potentials, and refractory periods, which are essential for understanding how information is transmitted and processed in the brain. The text also covers the role of synapses and neurotransmitters in neuronal communication, the spatial and temporal summation of signals, and the functional classification of neurons. The chapter further examines the ascending dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway to the primary sensory cortex, transduction processes, and the labeled line theory. It highlights the columnar functional organization of cortical columns and the balance of excitation and inhibition in the cortex. The text also discusses the hierarchical processing in the somatosensory and visual systems, the formation of functional maps, and the representation of objects in the brain. It explains how the brain processes and represents information, from abstract representations to specific muscle activations in the motor system. Finally, the chapter emphasizes the universal problem of understanding how the neocortex processes external information, performs computations, and generates motor output across many species.The chapter "Structure & Function of the Cerebral Cortex" by Manolis Froudarakis, a Group Leader at IMBB-FORTH, explores the complex interactions and functions of the cerebral cortex. The text begins by highlighting the goal of neural networks to interact with the environment, emphasizing their role in simple behaviors in Hydra and more sophisticated systems for detecting, processing, and responding to objects. The chapter then delves into the functional properties of the neocortex, including receptive fields, population representations, orientation columns, topographic maps, and hierarchical organization. It discusses the types of neurons based on shape, polarity, and activity, and explains the resting membrane potential and ion channels, which are crucial for neuronal communication. Key topics include depolarization, action potentials, and refractory periods, which are essential for understanding how information is transmitted and processed in the brain. The text also covers the role of synapses and neurotransmitters in neuronal communication, the spatial and temporal summation of signals, and the functional classification of neurons. The chapter further examines the ascending dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway to the primary sensory cortex, transduction processes, and the labeled line theory. It highlights the columnar functional organization of cortical columns and the balance of excitation and inhibition in the cortex. The text also discusses the hierarchical processing in the somatosensory and visual systems, the formation of functional maps, and the representation of objects in the brain. It explains how the brain processes and represents information, from abstract representations to specific muscle activations in the motor system. Finally, the chapter emphasizes the universal problem of understanding how the neocortex processes external information, performs computations, and generates motor output across many species.